Gradometer.



W. J. SPAULDING.

GRADOMETEH.

, 7 APPLICATION FILED MAR.:I9,19I4. 1,136,731,, V Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

mzzzerau imazdz'i v ATTORNEYS V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER J. SPAULDING, OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

GRADOMEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application filed March 19, 1914. Serial No. 825,806.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, \VALTER J. SPAUL- DING a citizen of the United States, andaresident of Santa' Barbara, Santa Barbara and State of a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to devices for measuring inclinations or grades with reference to a horizontal line, and has'reference more particularly to devices for use in connection with automobiles, for "indicating the grade of the road.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive gradometer which has few movableparts adapted to get out .of order, and-in which the movement of the -movable parts is dampened by the medium in which the parts are adapted to move.

I attain the above object by a convenient structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part or the specification,

in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding, parts in all the views and wherein' Figurell is a' vertical section through an embodiment of my invention, the same being shown secured to the'dashboard of avehicle; Fig. 2 is a front elevation "of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. l.'

Referring to the drawings, 4; represents a receptacle, v-hich is preferably a sector of a cylinder having aninlet thereto at the central portion and which inlet to the receptacle is closed by a cap 5 adapted to be tightened to the receptacle by means of a nut 6 and whereby said receptacle is hermetically closed. A gasket 7 is preferably provided in said cap 5 to perfectly seal the receptacle.

The parallel sides 8 of the receptacle 4, which form the ends of the cylinder, are extended past-one of the radial sid'es 9,-as

sho n at 10, and thealiningedges 11 of said.

extensionsare substantially parallel with the central line of-the'sector. Thus, when said edges 11 are brought against the vertical member 12, as shown in Fig. 1,-theaxis ofthe sector is'also substantially verticah Ad Jacent the edges 11 the extensions 10 of the sides" 8 are provided with means whereby the receptacle 4.- issecured to the member. 12.

, A pendulum 13 iswmounted to vibrate in the receptacle 4 with the axis of oscillation -on the central line ofthe receptacle and adjacentrthe top thereof, a. 6-, at the narrow in the county ofv California, have. invented a new and Improved Gradometer, of'which the following is between the bottom of the receptacle and the lower end of the pendulum. Therefore, it may be said that the pendulum 13 divides the receptacle into two parts. gear wheel 18 is integral with the pendulum l3 adjacent its'axis of oscillation, and which axis of oscillation is the axis of the gear. Meshing with the gear '18 is a pinion 19,'the stub-shaft 20 of which projectsthrough the radial side 9 "forming the 011' this radial side a cylindrical casing 21 is provided, the axis of which casing is common with the axis ofthestubshaft 20. The projecting end of the stub-shaft" 20 receives a hand 22 adapted to revolve when the pinion 19 revolves. A .dial23 is provided in ,the casing 21 and on which dial the grade is indicated by the displacement of the hand 22 caused by the displacement of the pendulum 13; A glass 24 is secured to the casing '21 to protect the dial'and the hand.

The reason for making the clearance '16 between the sides of the receptacle 4 and the pendulum is to increasethe resistance to the displacement of the pendulunrin the liquid receptacle 4. That is to say, when there is a sudden displacement of the casing dueto a change in grade, the pendulum will not be set into vibration, as the fluid passing from one side of the pendulum to the other side of the pendulumis resisted in movement by the clearance 16 and 17'. To make this resistance high, 'thereceptacle 4 ispreferably filled with oil shown at 25, and thus any vibration of the pendulum, due to "a sudden displacement of the-casing, is obviated.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and'desire to securebyLetters Patent:

In a gradometer, a casinghavingtheshape of a sector 'ofa cylindeigsaid 'ca'singhaving A part of a.

front of the device;

an 'inlet'at the narrower end; a cap for said casing engaging the inlet and "closing said casing hermetically; a-fiuid-i'n'saidcasmg; a pendulum mounted to vibrate in said caslng between the. radial sides-thereof, said pendulum having its Width substantially equal to the distance between the parallel sides of the on the dial the displacement of the casing easing, thus dividing said easing into two with reference to the pendulum.

parts intercommunicating through the clear In testimony whereof I have signed my ance formed by the pendulum and the paralname to this specification in the presence of 5 lel sides of the casing, whereby said fluid tWo subscribing witnesses.

dampens the vibration of the pendulum in said casing; a gear associated with the pen- WALTER N dulum; a pin engaging the gear; a hand as- Witnesses:

sociated with the pinion; and a dial for said B. OWENS,

10 hand, said hand being adapted to register A. THOMAS. 

